Bought a wheel on ebay to replace the wheel I hit with a curb. I also ordered some new Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 tires yesterday. The current wheel looks bad but is still functional, so I intend to keep it, with the tire on it, as a spare. hopefully I can get a large wheel bag to put it in and keep it in the utility room, out of the heat, so it won’t get dry-rotted.

Headed home today, back through Globe to AJ. The ninja odometer claims a total of 967.8 miles from Friday through today. total ride, including all destinations we rode to+to:1104+S+Central+Ave,+Safford,+AZ+85546+to:Alpine,+Arizona+to:Mule+Creek,+New+Mexico+to:1104+s+central+ave,+safford,+az+to:937+W+15th+Ave,+Apache+Junction,+AZ+85220&hl=en&geocode=%3BFRbn9AEdKvB1-Q%3BFT-v9AEdalJ3-SGn9Grj4b5htA%3BFRbn9AEdKvB1-SEEPB6btEKcFw%3B%3BFWDTCAIdgqJ8-SEB1h2mz-NLyg%3BFUoMDAId4FeI-Q%3B%3B%3BFYSZ9AEdthV6-SEV4jg-aKCDRw%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B&mra=ls&sll=33.56787,-110.030465&sspn=2.480639,4.597778&ie=UTF8&z=8) Google says 987 miles. My odometer is up to 7491 miles total.

Brian, Dan, and I set out much earlier (left at 8:30 instead of 10), rode to Clifton, AZ, and from there attacked the “Tail of the Beast”; US191 from Morenci to Alpine. This road used to be designated US666 and was affectionately known as “The Devil’s Road”. [caption id=“attachment_19265” align=“alignnone” width=“300” caption=“96 Miles of curves”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_19266” align=“alignnone” width=“300” caption=“The road curves through the Apache National Forest.”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_19267” align=“alignnone” width=“300” caption=“We reach 8100 feet; it was cold!

Got going about 10am, got gas, rode to Springerville via highway 180 in New Mexico. Some high elevation on the way, up to 7000 feet, so we saw lots of pine trees. Just before Springerville we hit incredibly strong winds. Parked at Los Dos Molinos in Springerville, I was worried the bike would fall over. It was even worse trying to get gas after lunch. From Springerville, we rode on to Quemado, NM, then cut over on NM32 to Apache Creek, through Reserve, NM, and then rejoined 180 and went back to Safford the way we had come from there.

Headed out towards globe. There was a small airport on the reservation just past globe, with some interesting old airplanes. After that brief stop, on to Olney House in Safford. Brian arrived a few minutes before me. The proprietor graciously offered parking in the back yard.

Just rode to work and back.

I had a service appointment for the ninja at 9 so I only had time to ride up to the first overlook on highway 88. Went much faster this time. On the way back down, I was taking one of the “15 mph” right-handers, and scraped my right foot! This indicates to me that I’m getting the bike leaned over. I dropped it off at the dealer with 6461 miles on the odometer.

Rode up to tortilla flats and back on highway 88, need practice on the curves. This was a great practice ride, starting to get the idea. After tortilla flats, I rode back down and then straight on to work. Got in three other shorter rides today, rode about 200 miles total today!

Took a long ride in preparation for a road trip next weekend. Rode about 55miles, all highway riding.

Paid off. Time to sell it! Today the Odometer is showing 6170 miles. I won’t be riding it for about a week. usually I put about 120–180 miles a week on it.